Mogadishu is a medieval trading city in Somalia, which reached the peak of its prosperity during the 14th and 15th centuries, when it became an important commercial and cultural crossroad between the Middle East, India and Eastern Africa. This text describes the incredible and neglected history of the Mogadishu. Rich and rare photographic evidence in the text makes it possible to explore the mosques, ruins, gravestones and residences with their 300-year old beams. The book will be of interest not just to scholars of history and archaeology, but also to anyone concerned by the destruction and decline of the medieval treasures of the first so-called freight village in the Horn of Africa.

The Kanz al-fawāʾid fī tanwīʿ al-mawāʾid, a fourteenth-century cookbook, is unique for its variety and comprehensive coverage of contemporary Egyptian cuisine. It includes, in addition to instructions for the cook, a treasure trove of 830 recipes of dishes, digestives, refreshing beverages, and more. It is the only surviving cookbook from a period when Cairo was a flourishing metropolis and a cultural haven for people of diverse ethnicities and nationalities. Now available for the first time in English, it has been meticulously translated and supplemented with a comprehensive introduction, glossary, and 117 color illustrations to initiate readers into the world of the Kanz al-fawāʾid. The twenty-two modern adaptations of Kanz recipes will inspire further experimentations. It is a valuable resource for scholars of medieval material culture, and for all lovers of good food and cookbooks.

Which dessert is named after the heroic third-century Queen Zenobia of Palmyra? Which luscious rice pudding shares its name with the eighth-century Abbasid Caliph al-Ma'mun? How does one make the perfect Baqlawah? Blending cookery with culture and recipes with history, this is the fascinating and delectable story of traditional Arab sweets. The authors here take us on a culinary journey across Iraq, Syria, Egypt and al-Andalus, presenting readers with clear and easy-to-recreate recipes from across the medieval Arab world. Filling the tables of caliphs and noblemen, these sumptuous desserts of saffron and rose water conjure the opulence and grandeur of the medieval Islamic world. Bringing together tenth- to fourteenth-century Arabic texts, the authors retrace the history of these sweet dishes, reviving the original recipes and following their development and influence over the centuries into non-Arabic speaking lands. Honey, dates, figs and pomegranates are just a few ingredients featured in this exquisite selection of mouth-watering desserts which have been modernised for cooks to try at home, all woven together with medieval poems and stories. From delicious pastries, filled with pistachios and fragrant syrups, to luscious puddings, biscuits, and pies, it is the ideal addition to any kitchen. A unique insight into Middle Eastern culinary history, this book is a must-have for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Welcome to heavy metal rock 'n' roll, circa 1980, when all you needed was the right look, burning ambition, and a chance. Stephen Pearcy and supergroup Ratt hit the bull's-eye. Cranking out metal just as metal got hot, Ratt was the perfect band at the perfect time, and their hit single "Round and Round" became a top-selling anthem. As Ratt scrambled up a wall of fame and wealth, so they experienced the gut-wrenching free fall, after too many hours in buses, planes, and limos; too many women; too many drugs; and all the personality clashes and ego trips that marked the beginning of the end. Pearcy offers a stunningly honest self-portrait of a man running on the fumes of ambition and loneliness as the party crashed. His rock 'n' roll confessional, by turns incredible, hilarious, and lyrical, is a story of survival--and a search for the things that matter most.--From publisher description.

Join Theodore P. Ratl on the first day of his new life in the New World. Not only is his arrival quite unorthodox, it also seems that if Ratl isn't going to find trouble, trouble is willing enough to find him. Luckily for him, he's about to meet someone who might just be more than his meal ticket.

During a training session to improve his skills as a grimoire master, Yushi experiences a spiritual revelation. Now, having taken a major step on his journey, it’s time to take a moment and relax…or not, as Yushi quickly finds himself in charge of coaching a pair of communication-impaired juniors at work. On top of that, he encounters a young girl about to throw herself off the top of a building! Will the fruits of his training be tested?! At any rate, Yushi’s rollercoaster summer break is far from over!